As the NRL heads back to pre-season training, the Parramatta Eels' biggest stars will be taking their Blue and Gold Deadly Heart Tour to communities throughout the New England region from November 2-4.

Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke Burt, Ben Smith and Tim Mannah will be among the Eels players who will head to the region for a three-day blitz spreading the message to Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well to school children and communities including Tingha, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Inverell and Armidale.

The New England region has been invited to join the Eels at local schools, signing sessions and open training sessions where players will educate the community on healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

The Blue and Gold Deadly Heart program was developed in conjunction with the New England Division of General Practice and the Parramatta Eels with funding from the Indigenous All Stars to educate and empower the Aboriginal communities of the New England region to make healthy lifestyle changes and choices through increasing understanding and knowledge.

Within the schools who have participated to date, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children have been involved. This approach has been an important factor in increasing the awareness of the wider community to the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy.

Chronic diseases, and in particular cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are the single biggest health problem of Aboriginal people in Australia, and this is the area where the Indigenous and non-Indigenous health equality gap is most apparent.